Hot water generator



` J. w. CARROLL HOT WATER GENERATOR Filed July 12 July 24, 1934.

l f1 Ven for. W. Carro/l.

l' 'or/n'ey.

Patented July 24, 1934 HoT WATER GENERATOR Joseph W. Carroll,Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to P. Carroll & Sons, Philadelphia, Pa.,r acopartnership composed of Edward P. Carroll and Joseph W. CarrollApplication July 12, 1933', serial No. 680,023

'z claims. (01.;257-238) My invention has special utility as a hotWater' generator in which the heating kmedium is live or exhaust steam,or both, as Amay be convenient or necessary under the conditions of use;and 5 in construction is especially adapted as akheater forA householdand other domestic uses, wherein simplicity in design and relativelysmall size are desirable. f

This application is in part a continuing application of my applicationSerial No. 614,423, iiled May31, 1932, which discloses a generator orwater heater comprising a vboiler-flike tank or shell adapted to benormally maintained full of water under suitableA pressure to insurecirculation and delivery to the place of use. 'The tank, ,moreoveig isprovided with two heating means of dilerent capacities, one of which ispositioned near the inner bottom portion of the tank, and the other nearthe upper portion 20 thereof, said heating means adapted for sieparateor conjoint heating of the body of water Within the boiler-like tank orshell and suitable for large production of hot watery My presentinvention is intended as a water heating means rof less capacity thanthe apparatus of my aforesaid application, and comprises a singleheating means with similar steam circulating means but of ylessercapacity than shown therein. Moreover, the heating means is locatedwholly in the lower portion ofthe boilerlike tank or shell instead ofbeing arranged in both the upper and lower portions thereof.

More specically, the heating section arranged in the lower part of theboiler-like tank or shell consists of a return tube construction inwhich there is a large tube closed at the inner end and having its outeror front end securelyY expanded and beaded Within a heavy steel tubesheet, said closed tube constituting a jacket. Inside of the saidtubular jacket is provided a relatively smaller tube arranged to conveythe heating steam to the extreme end of the water heating tube orjacket, through which the water of condensation returns to a condensatechamber into which the large or jacket tube extends, thereby providingat all times removal of condensate and circulation of steam through theheating section. In this manner, the outer surface of the jacket. tubebecomes Va direct heating surface for its entire area, and the inneror`steamdelivery tube is insulated by the heated jacket or outer tube andwill thereby retain the steam heat throughout its length and insure asupply` of relativelydry steamto the closed end of the outeror jackettube, whereby the great-v rtive view illustrating the manner ofsupporting eter of the jacket tube 12,v and the tank is furest heatingeiciency is secured. The front end of the inner tube extends through ahead which constitutes a condensate receiving chamber from which thecondensate may be drained through a suitable steam trap. 'I'he innertube 60 `communicates directly with a steam main and conveys the steamtherefrom to the distant or inner end of the jacketk tube from which thecondensate returns along the annular passage formed between the innersteam tube and the outer jacket tube.l Moreover, the inner steam tube issupported by the inner Wall of the jacket tube and the 4latterissuspended by a bracket welded or lotherwise secured to the inner wall'of the boiler-like tank. Furthermore, the heavy 70,`

steel tube sheet to which the jacket tube is secured is boltedintermediate 'of a iianged outlet from theY boiler-like tank and aiiange of the head through which the inner steam tube ex tends and towhich it is attached, whereby the parts may be dismantled for cleaningor repairs, as' maybe necessary. The cold water supply piping connectswith the boiler-like tank immediately below the jacket and steam tubesand is provided with ay suitable branch or circulation tube alsoconnected with the bottom .of the tank near the union of the jacket andsteam tubes, `whereby the heatedl'water may be recirculated over thevheating pipesv and with the addition of cold water from time to time tocompensate forthe hot water drawn off from the upper portion of theboiler-,like tank kfor distribution through thek house and to thedistant places, as may be required. f I

c My improvements further consist of other features and details ofconstruction which, together with those above referred to, are fullydescribed hereinafter andpointed out in the claims.

`The invention will be better understood by referenceto thedrawing,'in-which: Fig. 1 is a vertical section on line 1-1 of Fig. 2,illustrating the general construction of the hot water generatorembodying my invention;v Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same; Fig;Sis a perspecthe inner stealntube Within the outer ljacket, tube; andFig. 4 is an enlarged View of the bushing and sweated joint shown inFig. 1. The generator tank 2,is made of any desired diameter and lengthto provide capacity to suit the purpose for which the generator isdesigned. In general, the forward head 3 of the tank is provided nearits lower part with a flanged port 'lsomewhat larger than the outsidediamther provided near the flanged port with a feed water inlet 5 and atthe top and near the rear head 4 with a hot water delivery outlet 6. Theilanged port opening 7 is preferably made of a short length of tubingextending through the forward head 3 and electrically welded thereto asat 7b. The outer end of the port opening 7 is provided with a flange lawhich is preferably electrically welded at 7c. The heating tube orjacket 12 is provided at its inner end with a cap or head 34 which maybe brazed or welded in any suitable manner. This cap is provided with anextending pin portionY 35 which loosely ts into a hole 36 in a bracket36a, the latter riveted or welded to the lower part of the tank andextending upwardly therein to provide a supporting means for the tubenear the lower portion oi the tank, whereby the tube may expand andcontract freely. The outer end of `the jacket or heating tube l2 issecured to a heavy steel tube sheet 9, the union being made by expandingthe tube within the tube sheet and beating the end of the tube therein.

The inner or steam receiving tube 18, being insulated by the heatedjacket or outer heating tube, will retain the heat throughout its entirelength, and thereby insure the supply of relatively dry steam to theclosed end of the outer or heating tube 12, whereby the greatest heatingefliciency is secured. The front end 16, of the inner steam tube 18extends through the condensate chamber 24 and is secured to the head 8by a bushing 19. The tube sheet 9 and the l nges 7a and 8a are boltedtogether by means of bolts 11 and with gaskets 10 preferably interposedbetween the tube sheet 9 and the fianges 'Ta and 8d, to provide watertight but detachable connections for supporting the front or forwardends 20 of the tubes 12 and 18 and, at the same time, permit supply ofsteam to the inner tube and the discharge of condensate from the outeror jacket tube.

For simplicity in securing the outer end of the steam tube 18 to thecondensate receiving head and also connecting it with a control valve45, I prefer to employ a bushing 19 which is screw threaded on the outersurface so as to screw into the hub of the head 8 and made smooth on theinner surface to provide a sweated joint. with the end of the inner tube18, the outer threaded bushing also providing a threaded nipple 22 whichmay be screwed into and act as a support for the control valve 45 of anysuitable construction (see Fig. 4). The other or inner end of the steamsupply tube 18 is telescoped with the inner end of the outer or jackettube 12 and permits longitudinal movement due to expansion andcontraction; and to permit this operation between the tubes, the end of.the inner tube 18 is centrally spaced by flanges 18a, as shown in Fig-3. These spacing flanges 18a'I are shown as formed by radially flangingthe ends of the inner tube 18 and employing a portion of the flangedparts to provide spacing between the end of the inner tube 18 and theinterior wall of the outer or jacket tube 12. It will suffice to employthree or more of these spacing radial flanged portions 18a, though inpractice I prefer four of such parts as shown for centralizing the endof the tube 18 within the closed end of the tube 12. The surplus portionof the flanged ends of the inner tube 18 is out away so as to permitfree passage of the steam through the inner tube into the outer tube 12,and thence with the water of condensation through the annular spacebetween the inner tube 18 and outer tube l2 back to the condensatechamber 24.

Where the steam passes from the inner tube 18 into the space 34a withinthe closed end of the jacket or outer heating pipe 12 is the hottestportion of this generator and acts to assist in the 11e-circulation ofthe water within the tank and also to impart the hottest condition ofthe water immediately below the hot water outlet, and thereby provide aspeedy supply of hot water.

In the operation of my improved hot water generator, the steam issupplied through the valve 45 and pipe 18 to the distant end of thejacket or heatingtube 12 in which it is condensed, with the liberationof the latent heat of the steaminto the water contained in the tank 2,while the condensate from the condensed steam within the jacket pipe 12is delivered from the condensate chamber` 24 and thence passes throughythe pipe 24a to the steam trap (not shown). Normally, the watercirculates over the heating pipes l2 and 18 and continues tore-ciroulate through house pipes 6 and return pipes 6a exterior to thetank 2 and connected with the interior of the same adjacent to the endand hottest portions of thev heating pipes 12 and 18. The hottestportion of the tank 2 may be connected to the cooler portion thereof bya pipe 5a for the purpose of inducing a recirculation within the tank tobuild up the heating temperature when the circulation of the hot waterthrough the house pipes is at a minimum. This circulation isautomatically maintained until the water within the tank aiTects thethermostatic control means 6b extending into the tank and which by therising temperature of the water will vcause the steam supply valve 45 tobe throttled to reduce the heating eifect of the steam upon the heatingpipes 12 and 18.

A suitable air vent valve 53 and-vacuum breaker valve 54 may be employedas a protection to the hot water generator for `excessive variations inpressure or vacuum, and these elements may be respectively connected byelbow-shaped pipes 51 and 52 `each communicating with the condensatechamber 24 'of the head 8, as more particularly illustrated in Fig; 2.

The tank may also be provided with a hand hole 5r for cleaning purposes,and if arranged near the rear end. of the tank, it may be ern` ployed topermit the entrance of the hand in guiding the projecting guide pin 35of the pipe 12 into the bracket 36 when assembling the heating sectionin place within the tank. Furthermore, the tank may be provided with amud blow-ofi pipe and valve shown at 55, and with a. water relief valveas shown at 6c, of any suitable construction.

It will now be apparent that I have devised a novel and usefulconstruction which embodies the features of advantage enumerated asdesirable, andwhile lIl have in the present instance shown and describedthe preferred embodiment thereof which has been found in practice togive satisfactory and reliable results, it is= to be understood that Ido not restrict myself to the details stated as the same are susceptibleof modification in various particulars, without departing from thespirit Vor scope of the invention.

lI claim; i

1. A hot water generator comprising, in combination, a horizontal closedtank provided on its interior with a heating section positioned near thelower portion of the tank and consisting of a pair of inner and outertelescoped tubes arranged to form a return tube heating structure forsteam and condensate, means for supplying steam to one end of the innertube,

means for receiving water of condensation from said tubes and removingit from the generator, said outer tube being closed at its inner end andreceiving steam at said end from the inner tube, means within the tankfor supporting the inner end of the outer tube, a flanged orifice in oneof the heads of the tank and through which the telcscoped heating tubesextend a transverse tube sheet to which the outer end of the outer tubeis secured, said tube sheet tting against the flange of the tubularoutlet of the tank, a flanged head forming a condensate chamber havingdrainage means for condensate and to which the inner tube is secured,detachable bolt connections through the several flanges and tube sheetto support the heating tube section in fixed position within the lowerportion of the tank, means for supplying cold water to the tank, and anoutlet for hot water arranged in the upper portion of the tank andrelatively above the juncture where the inner tube supplies steam to theclosed end of the outer tube.

2. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the tank is also providedwith a hand hole arranged in the wall of the tank at or near the levelof the supported end of the closed outer tube.

3. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the tank is also providedwith a hand hole arranged in the wall of the tank at or near the levelof the supported end of the closed outer tube, and wherein further, themeans for supporting the inner end of the outer tube comprises a pin inalinement with the length of the tube and a bracket secured to the tankand having guiding means for the pin, said means being Within reachabledistance ythrough the hand hole.

4. The invention according to claim 1, wherein further, an air ventvalve and a vacuum breaker valve are respectively secured inycommunication with the sides of the condensate chamber of the head.

5. The invention according to claim 1, whereinr further, the tank isprovided Vwith re-circulation tubes comprising piping arrangedoutsideand below the tank and the heating structure herein.

6. A hot water generator comprising, in cornbination, a horizontalclosed tank having a flanged tubular outlet from one end or the tank andclose to the bottom thereof and a heating section composed of a pair lofinner and outer tubes arranged in concentric relation havingintercommunication at one end within the tank and separated at the otherendr outside of the tank and having theouter tube 100 bolted to the tankand the inner tube screwed into a detachable head boted to the flange ofthe outer tube, saidy tubes being telescoped one with respect to theother.

'7. The invention according to claim 6, wherein 105 further, the hotwater pipe from the tank connects with it at its upper portion and theheating section is arranged within the tank adjacent to its bottom andapproximately below the connection of the hot water pipe with the upper110 part of the tank.r

JOSEPH W. CARROLL.

